Breaking the Language Barriers While Dating Foreign Women
Though language is the least of your worries when dating a foreign woman, it’s still an inescapable obstacle you will have to deal with.
No matter how much you try to turn a situation around, your relationship will always need more work than it should. Nevertheless, it’s important to take note that, despite language barriers, several interracial couples have successfully made it.
Here are some common language problems you might encounter:
1. Wasted humor
Laughing sets off endorphins, which are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. It promotes your overall sense of well-being and temporarily relieves pain. It also decreases your stress hormones. Meaning a good laugh can, in a way, relax your body.
Laughing is one of the best ways for couples to bond and connect. However, humor from another culture is more likely to be misunderstood. It may not exactly make sense when told in a different language. When translated, it eventually loses its original meaning.
2. Awkward situation
Hanging out together with her friends can be fun, as it helps you build better relationships with them. Sometimes, however, awkward social situations can ensue because of language differences.
Chances are, you might feel left out since none of you speak fluently in each other’s native language. At the same time, trying to translate everything to each other can affect the pacing of the conversation.
3. Frustration
Because you’re unable to speak each other’s language, this can lead to moments of frustration, especially at times when you can’t fully express yourself in a way she can understand.
Likewise, the language barrier makes it difficult for you to solve relationship issues. It causes you pain every time you can’t explain yourself to her clearly.
To add, understanding each other’s accent takes a lot of decoding for you too, and this can definitely cause frustration, in worse cases, can even cause strain in your relationship.
4. Miscommunication
Confusing words with how they sound to you can alter the meaning of your partner’s messages, increasing the likelihood of an argument.
It’s also possible to mistakenly use an offensive word in a conversation; this can escalate any conflict quickly.
Breaking Down Walls
It doesn’t matter whether you’re communicating online or offline, because regardless of which, you’re still likely to have language barriers. This, in consequence, makes your communication complicated.
To help you conquer language barriers, here’s what you can do:
1. Start with the basics of politeness.
When you communicate with someone from another culture, you can show politeness by addressing them properly. Take into consideration the manner and tone to use when speaking.
Calling her on a first-name basis promotes a casual relationship, but it can also be misinterpreted as rude. If you must, confirm with her whether she prefers to be addressed formally or simply by her first name.
2. Show humility.
It pays to be humble when you’re interacting with foreign women. Not only will this help you leave a good impression, but this will also help draw these women towards you.
When you’re in the dating world, you’ll realize that women try to see beyond what their eyes see. In other words, they also consider a man’s personality.
So respect their culture as they do with yours, and abandon race supremacist beliefs because these women do not like men who think they’re superior to them and their culture.
3. Use nonverbal communication.
Body language.
It helps conversations become more meaningful, especially when spoken words are not enough to get your message across.
Your facial expressions, eye contact, hand gestures, and even your physical distance helps better express and deliver your message more clearly and intimately.
4. Avoid double negatives.
You’re both still trying to learn a new language, so keep your conversations simple and avoid the use of double negatives. They can easily be misunderstood.
For some cultures, it is also considered a null response. Learning a language alone is difficult, so don’t make it worse.
5. Stick to simplicity.
Refrain from using big and complicated words. There is no point in trying to sound smart. You’ll only make things difficult for you and her.
Instead, keep your conversations simple. Use short words with at least one or two syllables. The simpler your choice of words, the more likely you will be understood right away.
6. Slow down.
We all talk at a different pace. When you’re talking to a foreign woman, try to slow down and make sure she’s catching up. Make her feel that she’s in on the conversation by taking a pause and letting her process what you’re saying.
Successfully Getting through Your Language Barriers
It’s no surprise how numerous interracial couples stayed together over the years and have a successful marriage despite their language differences. Clearly, these differences have little impact on relationships, because after all, it’s the big things that matter.
And these language barriers are only a fraction of the equation.
Below are the secrets to having a successful relationship despite speaking different languages:
- Get comfortable while facing your fears. They make you a better person and a better partner as a whole.
- Don’t underestimate the value of communication. For relationships, it’s one of the most vital aspects.
- Make gestures, body language, and facial expressions count. It’s more meaningful than you think it is.
- Avoid jumping to conclusions. When something’s not made clear yet, don’t overreact and always get a hold of your emotions.
- In relation to the statement above, don’t leave unclear and vague messages as it is. Take time to clarify so as not to leave room for doubts.
- Help each other. Don’t ridicule someone who’s trying to understand your language, you’ll only discourage her from trying to learn.
- Keep an open mind. Constantly remind yourself that you’re talking to a woman from a different culture. Learn to respect and adjust.
Our culture is unique and special to us. It largely defines our character, beliefs, and upbringing. It also impacts how we see and value life and the people around us.
Language works the same. But no matter how different we may be in these terms, unity through diversity is always possible.
Let us allow love to unite us in a way no one can. Let it be an instrument for us to accept and embrace different kinds of cultures and different kinds of languages.
